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History

Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China, situated in the northern part of the country, 150 kilometers from the Bohai Sea. Beijing had a registered population of 13 million. The average life expectancy is 74 for Beijing residents. People of all China's 56 ethnic groups are found in Beijing. The vast majority of the population belongs to the Han ethnic group. With a history of more than 3,000 years, Beijing is one of China’s most ancient cities and oldest capitals. Beijing is rapidly becoming a modern international capital city. With its harmonious mixture of ancient traditional culture and modern facilities and infrastructure, the city attracts over a million foreign visitors each year. Through these visitors, the Chinese motto “One is not a real man until one has been to the Great Wall” is well known in other parts of the world.

As the modern capital of the largest nation on earth, Beijing sets the agenda for the political, cultural and economic direction of the People’s Republic of China and its 1.3 billion people. The 13.8 million citizens of Beijing enjoy a progressive and rapidly expanding economy, which in recent years has experienced an annual growth rate of revenue of 17%. China's economy is ranked as the fastest growing in the world, a trend that is predicted to accelerate with the country's pending membership in the World Trade Organization. Over the past decade, the country’s GDP increased at an average annual rate of 10%, reaching US$1 trillion in the year 2000 and it is expected to grow at the impressive rate of 7-8% over the next decade. As China's economic center, Beijing has developed into a modern world-class metropolis with an advanced infrastructure in transportation, telecommunications and technology over the last two decades.

Culture of Gourmet Food

Chinese cuisines are largely divided into 4 parts such as Hangzhou, Shandong, Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine. There are many restaurants which are specialized in those kinds of cuisine everywhere. Besides, there are chances to meet other kinds of restaurants from all around the world.

Beijing Roast Duck- is thought to be one of the most delicious dishes all over the world; most visitors coming to Beijing will never forget to have a try. The two famous restaurants that serve are Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant and Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant; both of them have a history of over one hundred years.

Imperial Court Cuisine, another important part of Beijing Cuisine, originates from royal kitchens where dishes and food were only cooked for the royal family. After the fall of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Imperial Court Cuisine began to be popular among the common people with its original features that the raw material and the ingredients are carefully selected and the dishes are exquisitely prepared and delicately decorated in different colors with light taste and sufficient nutrition.

Selected Activities Available in Beijing

Beijing is home to many of the top tourist attractions and activities in China. These include: The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, The Ming Tombs, The Summer Palace, Tian’anmen Square, Yonghegong Lamasery, Beihai Park & Round City. Visitors should make the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven as their top priorities. Other temples will be of interest, too. However, with almost 500 years as China's capital, Beijing has a host of other exceptional sights. The city has hundreds of miles of ancient hutongs (alleys), which are lined with housing in Beijing's distinctive, traditional style. Just pick a direction and start walking. Beijing offers an entertaining shopping experience that rivals the world’s best around the world in terms of quality, variety and value. In Beijing, there are large department stores, shopping malls, duty free stores, and galleries offering unique and unusual products in every price range.